www.CostaRicaTicas.com

So.. I have been coming to SJO for 10+ years now and have never had any real problems. I have made the walk from Del Rey to Amistad, Sportsmans, Taormina(mona lisa) at night without any problems until yesterday. I'm 6ft1 pushing 250 pounds needless to say I am not a small guy. I got some take out from Tico Burger and started my walk back to Zona 2 at about 2am. Once I got on the street that zona is on, a bum comes up and asks for money and I just kept walking... He keeps following me asking for money and I get all the way to the gate at zona when he trys to grab my food. Normally, I would have just let him have the food, but I was really hungry. Then 3 of his partners come running in and they try to "bum rush" me. I was able to fight them off and ring the gate buzzer before they got anything more than my food. The security guy comes out and they take off running up the street. There was also a girl standing that came running in during the struggle that tried to get my wallet out of my pocket. We find out later that this is group that is out targeting Gringos.. I know that I never listened when the vets would tell me to take a cab,,, but I hope that anyone that reads this heeds my warning and stays safe...

This can never be said enough. There is a target on our backs. Tiene cuidado

take a deep breath and relax. Perhaps the real lesson is: don't go to Costa Rica!???

Don't jump to extremes simply because of one bad experience. I understand how it affects you, but walking solo at 2am has always been dangerous. Don't advocate a taxi 'siempre' because of one bad personal experience.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I'm 6'2", 215. Thick up top. Late 40's. It helps but they are always looking for a victim.

People are always trying to hit you up for something. Eyeballing you. Especially outside the Del Rey. It's a pain just walking down the street there.

Luckily I have never been jumped but even if you take a cab they could wait for you to get out of it.

I don't see myself going back to San Jose CR. Last time I was there it seemed much worse than it was 10 years ago.

Maybe Jaco.

Occasionally I would rent one of the two apartments that the Dunn Inn has which is on the same street as Zona 2. I stopped doing that once I realized that corner is a gathering spot for transvestite's. All night long they would scream at each other making it nearly impossible to sleep. I would say the "girl" that came in at the end was hardly a girl. So you were able to fight off 5 ticos. That's great you prevailed. Stay safe.

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nicarica

Actually, that corner has been empty (or at times just 1 tranny) the last several times I've been in town. I stay at Taormina, so that corner is a regular walk-by for me.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

It's been a few years for me since staying in those apartments but at that time it was bad. At least 5 or 6 a night. Maybe they've relocated.

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nicarica

They are still out there, I walk by there, and tell them they are beautiful tonight in Spanish which they seem to like, and i keep my distance. As someone else said on this board, you can usually outrun them in their high heels.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

No, the lesson is that no matter how big or tough you are, you shouldn't be out walking in the streets in the middle of the night. Only criminals and street trash are out at those hours.

I don't understand why you are against solid advice. Don't advise people to always take a taxi after one "bad" experience? First, that's all it takes is one bad experience, or sometimes one dead experience. And second, he never said always take a taxi. He said take a taxi at night. I believe that most on here would agree.

OP,
I'm glad you are ok. Luckily, it was a few bums and not real bad guys. And luckily it happened in front of your hotel. But it can get serious fast, so always be cautious of your surroundings.

Fuller,
Never, ever carry your wallet, get a copy of your passport with the entry stamp in it.
Take that and enough cash for the evening's festivities.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

+1

I never carry more that I can lose and not have my whole trip ruined. In addition to cash/wallets, remember that jewelry and watches are targets.

To date, I've never had an issue in Costa Rica, but have been pick-pocketed in other countries. Also woke up with a lump on my head in a gutter in Buenos Aries.

For God's sake, Fish, you gotta quit sleeping in gutters.

A few years ago, I was in Miami on business. I am also a pretty big guy. I decided to have dinner at Bayside. I was walking back to my hotel around twilight (around 9:00PM). I noticed two guys about 30 feet behind me. I picked up my walking pace, they picked up their pace. I finally decided, it was ON! I took off in a full sprint. Those two also broke out in a run and were gaining on me quickly. Luckily, I turned a corner and arrived at the lobby of my hotel; they turned around. I lucked out that night.

That shit can happen anywhere, brothers.

Did you go back for more food ?

When I was staying at Zona, Scores, Dunn Inn or Mona Lisa whenever I would walk past the trannies I would say hello, and or compliment them. If I was in the penthouse at Zona I would call down to them from the balcony always being nice. I figured if anyone ever tried to cause me a problen I might have the trannies come to my rescue, or at least cause whomever was bothering me to think twice.